We are in the early stages of a massive technological change that is affecting all industries. Will automation also cost workstations? The fear of losing one's job and thus of financial and emotional stability is one of the great fears of our time.
A glance at history shows that jobs that disappear as a result of automation are nothing new. What has changed is the framework, because machine learning can replace more than just physical labor. It's not difficult to imagine a robot boss who cold-bloodedly monitors our work and fires us if we don't meet the pre-calculated criteria and quotas - Hal 9000 in suit and tie.
IBM shows the good sides of AI in the workplace
The picture should not turn out so gloomy. So Rometty is sure that things will change fundamentally - but for the better. Your company has proven that machine learning can be an important factor in job security for managers and employees.
Over the past five years, IBM has developed a range of AI-based tools that enable the company to recruit staff, identify career paths and even calculate salaries. And because the company is so influential, these tools could soon make it into your offices.
Large companies are aware of the fears associated with major technological changes - not to mention the bad press. Amazon, which has been severely criticized for the way the company uses artificial intelligence to terminate underperforming employees, announced in July that it would invest $700 million over the next six years. The money will be spent on the retraining of 100,000 Amazon employees who are engaged in activities that could soon be replaced by artificial intelligence.
An AI called Job Buddy
Brands around the world use artificial intelligence to improve their HR departments. Research has shown that more than 70 percent of employers and recruiters use some kind of automated resume analysis algorithm to create candidate pool summaries and even to evaluate candidates. Consumer goods giant Unilever and mobile operator Vodafone are counting on AI to help eliminate unfair prejudice in the application process. Pymetrics, a personnel services company, develops tests that test career starters for characteristics such as focus, memory and risk appetite. The company's algorithm determines whether a candidate is worth a closer look by a human resources manager.
Frida Polli, head of Pymetrics, told business insiders that her company does not seek to replace HR staff in large companies. Rather, they want to free companies from reviewing thousands of applications so that they can concentrate fully on the top candidates.
Artificial intelligence in the workplace is still in its infancy and these experiments are largely limited to companies that have access to advanced technology. However, it is worth exploring the tools to not only improve performance and productivity but also to increase employee well-being.
Sheopuri Research and the Watson Initiative
While Sheopuri and his team were busy developing these tools, another powerful AI was being developed elsewhere at IBM. The company introduced a consumer version of Watson in 2016, the AI, which became known for its candidacy for the quiz show "Jeopardy! Kelli Jordan, head of the New-Collar-Job training program and its apprentice initiatives at IBM, asked the developers to find ways to implement Watson at their workplace.
The tools that have emerged from Sheopuri's research and the Watson initiative now touch almost every aspect of the workplace. From answering an applicant's questions to notifying managers when employees should be considered for promotion - or when they run the risk of not meeting a quota.
IBM has determined through quarterly evaluations that these Human Resources tools have saved $107 million and "thousands of hours of work" by 2017. Since then, the company has continuously developed the tools further.
This article was originally uploaded on Xing News.